UK: Contracts of employment

Summary

Employment contracts may be written or oral, and may contain both express and implied terms. (See General)

Only individuals defined as employees may claim many employment rights, and whether or not an individual is considered to be an employee depends on a variety of factors and the particular circumstances. (See Defining employees)

An individual who is not an employee may be deemed a "worker", and have limited entitlements under employment legislation. (See Defining workers)

Probationary periods typically last for either three or six months and are governed by the terms of the individual employment contract. (See Probationary periods)

Within two months after the start of employment, the employer must give the employee a written statement of his or her particulars of employment, containing specified information. (See Written statement of terms of employment)

An employer that wishes to change an employee's terms and conditions must, in general, do so only with the agreement of the employee or, where the term in question derives from a collective agreement, the agreement of the trade union concerned. (See Variation of contract)

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